Since the month of November 2016, the Montreal Canadiens have managed to earn only 51.2% of all available points. Facing off against another struggling team in the Boston Bruins tonight could potentially provide the Habs with breathing room heading into their bye week, especially since they have not lost a game in Boston in over five years.
After the Bruins fired Claude Julien, the team has strung together two wins, but their overall record of 28-23-6 has them barely hanging onto the third spot in the Atlantic Division. They are being closely chased by the Toronto Maple Leafs who have one less point but three games in hand. Moreover, the Ottawa Senators are threatening to take over the division's lead, as they are six points behind the Habs but have four games in hand. Suffice to say, both teams will be hungry for a win ahead of their respective bye weeks, and an effort resembling yesterday's against the St. Louis Blues will be the minimum required by head coach Michel Therrien.
To call this game a "must-win" would be an understatement, although the Canadiens can count on one of their leaders to be reinserted into the lineup after a six-week absence.
The return of Brendan Gallagher will be the most positive news of the last few weeks for a team that desperately needs a boost in energy. Besides the Phillip Danault, Max Pacioretty and Alexander Radulov line, no other forwards have provided any consistent secondary scoring. Gallagher could therefore be slotted alongside Alex Galchenyuk and perhaps Arrturi Lehkonen with the hopes of simultaneously reviving their scoring touches.
At the very least, Gallagher can make Bruins' goalie Tuuka Rask have a hard time concentrating by characteristically parking himself in front of the netminder's crease. Rask's .910 save percentage is certainly below his standards, and the presence of Gallagher could cause the goalie who has struggled against the Habs his entire career to continue doing so.
Either way, the hope is that nearly 29% of respondents in yesterday’s poll are right in saying that the team will earn two points this weekend.
NOTES: Carey Price gets the nod ahead of tonight’s matchup as he looks to bounce back from a poor outing against the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday night. Daniel Carr has been sent down to the AHL's St. John's IceCaps, making way for Gallagher's return.